title: Role of nesfatin-1 in a rat model of visceral hypersensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of nesfatin-1 on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like visceral hypersensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The animal model of IBS-like visceral hypersensitivity was induced by intracolonic infusion of 0.5% acetic acid (AA) in saline once daily from postnatal days 8-21. Experiments were performed when rats became adults. The visceral sensitivity of rats was evaluated by abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the external oblique muscle to graded colorectal distension. The content of nesfatin-1 in serum was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After implantation of an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula and two electrodes into the external oblique muscle, model rats were randomly divided into four groups. Animals then received ICV injection of 8 μg of anti-nesfatin-1/nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2), 50 μg of α-helical corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) 9-41 (non-selective CRF receptor antagonist), 50 μg of NBI-27914 (selective CRF1 receptor antagonist) or 5 μL of vehicle. After 1 h of ICV administration, visceral sensitivity of each group was measured again, and comparisons between groups were made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rats treated with AA showed higher mean AWR scores and EMG activity at all distension pressures compared with controls (P < 0.05). On histopathologic examination, no evidence of inflammation or abnormalities in structure were noted in the colon of either control or AA-treated groups. Myeloperoxidase values were not significantly different between the two groups. The level of nesfatin-1 in serum was significantly higher in the AA-treated group than in the control group (5.34 ± 0.37 ng/mL vs 4.81 ± 0.42 ng/mL, P < 0.01). Compared with rats injected with vehicle, rats which received ICV anti-nesfatin-1/NUCB2, α-helical CRF9-41 or NBI-27914 showed decreased mean AWR scores and EMG activity at all distension pressures (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nesfatin-1 may be associated with IBS-like visceral hypersensitivity, which may be implicated in brain CRF/CRF1 signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Fang-Yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Xue-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tian-Nv
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bi-Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D003106:Colon / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004576:Electromyography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time; D012018:Reflex; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C000630652:Nucb1 protein, rat; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D019342:Acetic Acid
keywords: Corticotropin releasing factor; Intracerebroventricular injection; Irritable bowel syndrome; Nesfatin-1; Visceral hypersensitivity